Allura's POV:

She is absolutely stunning the kind of beautiful that would be portrayed in galleries for all to see. Of course Miguel would be taken by her. "How have you been ever since then?" Samba seems to know her quite well. "I have been quite alright, I am to be wed to the Duke of Russphat so it all worked out in the end. Miguel is competing this evening right against my cousin that is." She has moved on already it hasn't been a year yet. How could she possibly move on so quickly from a four year relationship.

"Yes he is competing I have accompanied my sister here tonight on his request." Her eyes spot me immediately and she takes in everything about me before speaking. "On his request." she shallows hard. "Excuse my manners. I am Elena of Samlet pleasure to meet you er.." she hold out her hand and I take it, it's freezing cold. "I am Allura of Gatuk. Pleased to make your acquaintance." her eyes widen at the mention of my name and she retracts her hand from my abruptly.

"I am pleased we met I should head to my seat the event will begin at any moment now. Samba. Allura" she stamps over to the other side. "Were you two familiar with each other brother?" I hope I am not be too forward. "Yes. I use to know her during our Prep years then she went to Atar and Miguel snared her first." So he was smitten by her too. Something tells me that she didn't want to separate from Miguel she perhaps still wants him.

Mr. Wade walks out to the center of the arena and an alarm that sounds like a signal of death sounds. "Welcome your Majesies to the annual 45th Knights Dagger." The cheers erupt the crowd most from the men. "This evening we have the best two swordmen in the land on this very soil. From Atar Academy welcome Bruce of Kilt." With the opposing side cheering a man walks out in a half armored garment. With mostly his torso covered as well as his face as well. "And from Royal Academy welcome Miguel of Hailstings." Miguel walks out in the same garment as Bruce but in a darker shade of black.

"Now the rules are simple. You are given a time of 20 minutes in the given time you must mark your opponent three times on the shoulder, arm or the leg. If either one of you marks an opponent where I have not mentioned you will be disqualified. And the mark will only be counted if it draws blood. The under garments are white so it will be indicated clearly. You will the aim for your academy flag with your chosen dagger raising your flag and claiming your victory."

Mr. Wade walks of to the flag pole section. He draws the blue flag signaling for them to pick a weapon. Bruce picks up two swords while Miguel pick one sword from the ground. "Attack!" They both charge at each other. The crowd cheers and the clinks of swords begins. They move with haste around the arena showing off their incredible footwork. It seems as though Bruce is quite fond with using diagonal attacks when striking. Miguel is mostly focused on defending himself as best as he can.

While trying to attack for the first time in 5 minutes within a blink of a eye Bruce marks Miguel just above his elbow drawing blood. "1st mark Bruce." Mr. Wade announces. Atar sounds for Bruce's praise. They wait for the blue flag to be drawn again. Miguel seems to be searching the arena until he stops in my direction and reflects the ray of light slightly above my eye but close enough to get my attention to show that he has seen me and I wave to respond to his sign. The blue flag is drawn a second time and Miguel grabs another sword.

"Attack." They charge again with them both holding two swords they both attack and defend. They both go on for 3 minutes longer then the first time before Bruce stumbles leaving Miguel to attack swiftly and he marks him on his right leg drawing blood. We cheer as he claimed our first point. "1st mark Miguel." The third flag is drawn shortly after. Bruce sticks to he two swords. While Miguel trades in his swords for 2 daggers. "Attack." They seem to have increased the pace of their feet. Moving to almost every part of the arena. Bruce loses one of his swords while attacking but manages to get another while dodging an attack from Miguel.

With 2 minutes left on the clock they both move in slower pace due to being tired. Now they can mark each other without stopping. While trying to attack Miguel defends himself quite well by using his daggers to render Bruce defenseless and just like that Miguel marks his shoulder and as he tries to dodge a second attack Miguel already seems to know in which direction he would go and marks his arm seconds after. There is silence in the arena as we try to process everything, Miguel throws his dagger claiming our academy flag. The cheers of the crowd erupt and we all celebrate. "He did it." Samba and I say in unison celebrating.

"Our victor Miguel of Hailstings for Royal Academy." We all stand to applaud and he takes his bow and walks to claim his award before walking towards the changing chambers. I will be the first to congratulate him. "Brother I will return in a moment." He nods and goes back to talking with his friends. I use another walkway to the changing chamber and I look for one that seems to be in use and I spot it on my second turn. I hear voices from inside.

"I see you are doing well for yourself I hope you are happy now than before." I recognize that voice. Elena? "Surely you did not barge in here to say this?" I peek in the little I can see and he is seated on the bed and she is quite a distance further from him with her back towards me. "You ended our courtship so unexpectedly and even your family wouldn't get involved in the matter. Do you know how much that hurt me?" She stares at the ground and I can hear her voice choke in her throat.

"You knew that we would never get married. I told you but it seems you did not take me serious just like everyone else in my life. The idea of marriage is not one I want to live for myself and you wanted it. I set you free and now you will finally get it." He gets up from the bed and walks off to the closet to get a coat. "Is that so, or is it that you would never live out the idea of marriage with me?" He turns around and I stop peeking because he will surely see me.

"You should leave. I wish you and your future husband the best. He will be everything you ever wanted you will see. Please leave." I hear the stamping of heels she opens the door and runs of the other way not seeing me as her hands were covering her face. I knock on the door seconds after so it doesn't seem suspicious. I walk in with a smile on my face and he smiles in return. "That was quite impressive. I am glad I got to see you for myself, else I might have never believed you were that good." He laughs at my remark. "I am glad you were astonished. Bruce was a great opponent." I can not stop thinking about what I overheard. I will not ask because he is happy about his win.

"I will walk you to your chamber it's quite late and I need to rest as well." We walk out and start walking back I made sure Samba saw me so he would not be worried about me. "Have you figured out what you will do after this year... perhaps travel or marriage." He places his hands in his pockets and stays silence for a bit. "I might start my royal work but I will not be getting married it seems people only do that to keep the perfect face of a family unit and not "love" as people like to say." I admire how men do not idolize family.

"Well whether love exists or not I am bound to marry it's all we get told is our purpose. I am nothing outside that idea." I am going to marry someone who will not love me but at least I will be accomplished. "Do you think you will lead a happy life with your future husband? I mean do you feel safe with him?" His stare of concern really confuses me on what he means. Does he mean is he a danger to me? "Yes I feel safe with him he does not seem like he would ever raise his hand to me." I reassure him. Though as much as I want to believe what I am saying I might never truly know until after we marry. "You will be traveling home for Voilene tomorrow?" I change the subject to a lighter matter.

"Yes I would really like to stay here but mother would never forgive for missing her favorite holiday. You know she is a big celebrater, you remember when she hosted a gathering years ago." we both laugh remembering how she made sure it was one to remember. "Here you are." we arrive at my chamber. "I will see you after Voilene weekend. Oh and if your Mama makes her famous coco cake kindly take some along when you return." I have never forgotten it since the first time I had tasted it. "I will tell her to try keep it away from Tinni my sister is quite an eater. Happy Voilene Lura" It's the first time I hear him speaking of Tinni since we last saw each other. "Happy Voilene. Miguel."

The next day

We were delayed by 30 minutes because Samba overslept and had barely finished packing his suitcase. We arrive late in the afternoon the whole palace housekeepers seem to have finished decorating. The butlers take our luggage and we walk into the palace hoping that we could find Mama or Father near but they are no where in sight. "Let us check the ballroom perhaps they are checking the decoration."

We walk into the ballroom to find Mama shout at one of the butlers for apparently getting the flowers wrong and Father is simply just standing by watching respectfully so because he would not risk being caught in the middle of a scabble. "Mother your joy has arrived." Samba yells walking towards her with arms open going in for a hug. "Children you have arrived finally. Are you feeling tired, hungry you all should eat something." She hugs Samba and spares some hugs for us too. "Mama have you made my favorite pie we all have been waiting all year for that." Lilly's favorite vanilla pie.

"Of course I have made it. It is the only thing I do that gets praise around here." Lilly is definitely looking forward to it. "Mama you have truly went all out this year with the decor." The last time she went all out like this was when she hosted for eight Royal families that were in alliance with Papa. "Yes she had to go all out because the Grost family will be joining us this year for the festivities." My heart sinks and I glance at Lilly aside me who seems to be breathing heavily. "You should all get ready they should be here any moment. Claudia get Allura dressed she should be her best looking for her fiancé." Claudia comes to my side and we walk to my room and I get ready.

The gown I am adorned with this evening is traditional of Grost family, I remember Lilly wearing a similar style to this whenever she would meet with Aden family. We all gather in the ballroom awaiting the arrival of the family everyone is wearing somewhat a shade of blue or lime. "The crowned prince Aden of Vince and the Duke and Duchess of Martin" We stand to greet them we curtsy and everyone exchanges so small chatter. We sit at the dining table. Aden sits next to me across from Lilly.

"A toss, to our guests and to us being family soon." Father raises his glass from the head of the table. "Cheers" everyone raises their glass and drinks from it. During half of the dinner was the Duke and Father talking about a land on the east side that needed to be put to good use. I was mainly occupied with me counting how many times Aden has glanced in Lilly's direction a total of sixteen times. I wish someone could look at me the way he does with her, I would never let him go. The Duchess kept asking me question about how many children I would be giving her nephew and she lightly hinted that it would have to be anywhere near nine. To which I shook my head with a tight smile terrified of how I could ever handle a household of that many children.

"The young ones need to make public appearances together before the engagement. The newspapers must feed on the idea that they are in love just like how we did for Lilliana and Aden." Papa announces loudly for everyone at the table to hear. "That is a great idea to get people of the kingdom excited on the upcoming engagement." Aden Aunt gives her input on the matter while touching my shoulder to make sure I am paying attention.

"Perhaps he could accompany her back to the academy after Voilene everyone will surely be keeping an eye on them perhaps a slight interaction like hand touching that will have everyone talking." She seems like she does such things for a living play pretense with the public. "Excuse me please." Lilly leaves from the table bolting out the room. About five minutes go by before Father follows behind her and they return looking tense with Lilly's eyes looking quite puffy as she avoids lifting her head from her plate so that no one notices she has been crying.

I wonder what Father could have said to her she rarely ever cries with people around. I will find out once this dreadful dinner comes to an end.